By Dennis Romero -
NBC News
Ezra Blount, a 9-year-old boy who suffered brain trauma in the rush of people at Houston's Astroworld festival last week, has died, his family's lawyers have reported.
Ezra was hospitalized in an induced coma in an attempt to save his life after he suffered trauma to the brain, kidney and liver as a result of what some witnesses described as a "crushing" of the audience at the November 5 event, which has already it has claimed 10 lives.
[One of the victims of the stampede at the Astroworld Festival died saving the love of her life. "I'm in hell," she says]
Ezra was on the shoulders of his father, Treston Blount, when the crowd began to gather and Blount passed out, causing his son to fall.
His parents enlisted the services of senior attorney Benjamin Crump, as well as Alex Hilliard, Bob Hilliard and Paul Grinke, to represent them in a lawsuit alleging that the organizers failed to control the crowd during the concert. scheduled for two days hosted by
hip-hop star
Travis Scott.
In a statement Sunday announcing Ezra's death, Crump's office said: "Ezra suffered life-threatening injuries and was placed in a life support induced coma in an attempt to combat his brain, liver and kidney trauma." .
"This should not have been the result of taking your son to a concert, which should have been a joyous celebration," the statement continues.
“Ezra's death is absolutely heartbreaking.
We are committed to seeking answers and justice for the Blount family.
But tonight we stand in solidarity with the family, in pain and in prayer, "he concludes.
["As if an elevator fell on us": concert goers in Houston describe the chaos that left 8 dead]
Astroworld promoter Live Nation said in a statement Friday: “We continue to support and assist local authorities in their ongoing investigation so that fans who attended and their families can get the answers they want and deserve, and we will address all legal matters at the right time. "
Astroworld: there are already a hundred lawsuits against Travis Scott and other festival organizers
Nov. 12, 202102: 10
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner has tried to put some of the blame for the tragedy on Scott, who was performing on stage when the human tide began in the audience after 9 p.m., following the start of his performance.
According to a chronology published by the Houston Chronicle, a mass casualty event was declared at 9:38 pm.
["He was always willing to help," says the father of a young Latino who died at the Travis Scott concert]
The show, with disturbing pauses evident in multiple videos, lasted until after 10.
"Travis Scott didn't know there were victims," said his trial attorney, Edwin McPherson.
“Nobody told him, nobody told his team.
When someone finally communicated something to his team that this was the last song which was around 10:10 pm, Travis said 'OK, last song' and stopped it when they told him to stop it. "
Scott said in an Instagram story the day after the tragedy that he was "devastated" by what happened.
"I could never imagine that something like this had just happened," he said.
“My fans really mean the world to me, and I always just want to leave them a positive experience.
Every time I can distinguish ... whatever is going on, I would stop the show and ... help them get the help they need. "
He has offered to pay for all funerals for the deceased.
In addition, according to sources close to the artist, he will return the money to the festival goers.
The second day of the two-day event was canceled.
[This was Travis Scott's response to the incident at the Astroworld Festival that left several dead]
The other nine concert attendees who died were between 14 and 27 years old.
On Wednesday night, Bharti Shahani, a 22-year-old college student, died of her injuries, according to her family's lawyer.
He was in critical condition thanks to an artificial respirator after attending the concert with his sister and a cousin, according to relatives.
